Published April 13, 2026 — last updated April 13, 2026
The US military announced it will begin a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, to be enforced impartially against vessels of any nation using Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. US Central Command said the measure would take effect Monday at 5:30 p.m. Iranian local time (1400 GMT). The statement said ships traveling between non-Iranian ports would still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump confirmed the military announcement, saying the objective is to clear mines and reopen the strait to all shipping while preventing Iran from profiting from control of the waterway. Iran’s leadership denounced the blockade as illegal and likened it to piracy, vowing to counter the move. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if Iran’s ports’ security were threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea would be safe and reiterated earlier claims of control over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite US assurances that transit through the Strait of Hormuz would not be restricted, most oil tankers avoided the waterway. MarineTraffic data showed just four tankers carrying oil, gas or chemicals crossed the strait on Monday, compared with an average of 138 such ships per day before the conflict began on February 28, according to the multinational Joint Maritime Information Center. Hundreds of vessels remain stuck in the region, and tanker owners warned that thousands of crew members face shortages of water and food.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial artery for global energy and commodities: roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas and nearly half of traded urea normally pass through it. The disruption has driven oil prices sharply higher — US crude rose about 8% to just over $104 a barrel and Brent climbed about 7% to just over $102 on Monday, compared with about $70 a barrel before the war began.
European responses were mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron said France and the UK will soon convene an international conference to discuss a potential “strictly defensive” naval mission, separate from the warring parties, to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and he urged renewed diplomatic efforts for a lasting settlement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would not be coerced into joining the US-Israeli war on Iran or backing the US-announced blockade, telling BBC Radio 5 Live that Britain remains focused on getting the strait fully reopened; he noted UK minesweepers were deployed to assist in reopening the waterway.
Germany’s Economy Ministry warned the conflict is likely to have long-term repercussions for the German economy through 2026, citing sustained high energy costs, supply disruptions and added economic burdens even after any resolution. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a temporary cut in energy taxes on diesel and petrol to help cushion consumers from surging prices.
Tensions have also manifested beyond state-to-state exchanges. President Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff appealed for peace in the Middle East; Trump labeled the pope “weak on crime” and attacked his stance on Iran in comments to reporters and on social media.
Background: Since the war began, Iran has effectively restricted passage of the strait to vessels under Iranian control, saying ships would be allowed to transit only under Iranian oversight and subject to fees. The US had previously warned of a full blockade of the strategic waterway; the latest military statement limited the blockade to Iranian ports while permitting non-Iranian port-to-port transit through the strait.
Iranian and US delegations met in Pakistan over the weekend for talks described as unsuccessful; Iran’s parliament speaker said US representatives failed to gain trust, and Iranian authorities called US demands unreasonable.
The situation remains fluid. The US says it aims to clear mines and restore safe shipping; Iran has pledged to respond to any threats to its ports. International discussions are ongoing as governments consider how to coordinate efforts to reopen the strait and address the humanitarian and economic impacts of the blockade.